Welcome {HOME} Sister Crandall

We waited, and waited, and WAITED for Stephanie and our parents to come up the driveway...and by the time they did, it was WAAAAAAAAAAY late and Emily and I had tried our hand at lightening pictures...

Thanks for catching these, Em!

 Deseret and I were given the task to mass produce some Welcome Home Posters...we sure had fun!!!

Saturday was spent enjoying each other's company, catching up, and setting up for a family dinner after Sister Crandall's report.

Sunday was a beautiful whirlwind!!!  Thirty minutes before church, I noticed my little family was ready to go...so I grabbed Reed's girlfriend, Emily, and she snapped these fun pictures of us in the wheat field near our house...I've ALWAYS wanted pictures in a wheat field....it's the IN thing, don'tchaknow?!

SOOC (straight out of camera) Pretty much EMILY ROCKS!

After a wonderful Sacrament Meeting (and awesome musical number by the brothers, Keith, Reed, and Clay), before we could eat, I made EVERYONE take a family picture....I knew my kids wouldn't last past the Pork Sandwiches in clean shirts....

PLEASE?!  A normal picture?!

Sisters....Sisters....

ALL the ladies!!

I think this one just might be Christmas Card Worthy.  :)
(Thanks, Christy!)

And now we could eat; we all gathered in the back yard for some delicious food and great laughs....

Hi, mom!!!  Got'cha!

After company left, we gathered our things, and got ready to head home...sticky candy sticks and all!!!

Welcome home, Sister Crandall!!!  We sure do love you and were blessed by your selfless service in the mission field! 

Froggy Photos

While mom and dad went to pick up Sister Crandall from her mission, Deseret and Clay stayed for us for a few days.  Towards the end of the week, we headed to Chesterfield to await her arrival, and get things set up for a family dinner after her homecoming report.

Who knew taking pictures of frogs could be such fun?!  And that they'd be such great models?!  Before we EVER got into my parents' home after a 2 hour drive, Tanner and Taylor found these cute little pets on the lawn and boy, were they ever entertained!!!  For an awesome ENTIRE AFTERNOON!

Even I got brave, and put some gloves on....
check out my mad-one-handed camera skills! 

Oh...and we upgraded the seat belt situation.  It was just easier with
two extra bodies and a family trip coming up...
plus, I was getting SO DRAINED from all the fighting in the
back seat of the Tarus.  We're LOVING the upgrade! 

As the afternoon wore on, Clay and I decided to get productive and hung this GIGANTIC sign up....we just paint over each person's name as they come home from their mission....that tarp is probably 12 feet up in the air...Clay was a good sport and held onto the ladder while I climbed to the tipy-top to tie off the tarp.

The boys and I decided to join uncle Clay while he did chores....starting the pump that starts the pivot.

Just to show how buff my brother is, and that nasty storm that rolled in over
the course of 7 minutes....it sure was a nasty-dusty mess!!

Can't wait for Stephanie to get home!!!

{The Pond} at Bush Berry Farm

I have some dear friends that decided to get together at {the pond}.

We couldn't go until I took Kortlen in for his 2 year immunizations, and picked up a new scout shirt for Ryan...scout camp is coming up!!!  Must have my man dressed in his best!

We were late and we missed out on a terrific downpour...but made up for it by staying later.

I now know what to get two little boys for their birthday!!!  {note to self:  fishing pole, tackle, and some waders.}

Here's some fun shots of our afternoon:

baby talk...Kortlen was asleep,
or he would have been jabbering away, too!

LOVE this little guy!

These ladies are dear friends...I'm so glad to have them in my life,
and they've helped me through some trying times,
and also been there to celebrate the amazing times!
So BLESSED to have you in my life, friends!

don't judge me on this composition....I was standing
on a raft...trying NOT to fall in the pond! LOL!

Since that lovely storm started rolling in, we all packed it up and headed for home...

We ended the day with another trip to the pediatrician's office, because an upset brother threw a water bottle at another brother, thus causing a huge split in the scalp. Didn't worry about said split, till after the 30 minute drive home when I discovered the back seat covered in blood, along with my middle child.  It worried me enough that we went in, and in turn, left with two cute little staples in Taylor's scalp, and Tanner asking to keep said stapler.  Oy.  I hope I survive these cute boys!

Atti{TWO}de

My baby is TWO!!!  

To celebrate, we splashed it up in Lava at the pool, with slides, sunscreen, and cupcakes...Didn't get a single picture of any of us in the water, but we had a blast!  The day was perfect: overcast, warm, and with my family.  Sadly, Daddy couldn't make it, because he was at work, My dad also had work, and Auntie Stephanie is on her mission (3 more weeks!)....we missed them!

Somebody was tuckered out at the end of the day!

On Kortlen's actually birthday, we celebrated with birthday cake and presents; Grandma and Grandpa Poulsen joined us for Sunday dinner and brought the ice cream, since I forgot to pick some up.

This little boy is so full of spunk and attitude....he's calm and intelligent, and such a joy to be with!!! He's definitely a daddy's boy, but likes to cuddle with mommy, too.  Not only does he love his big brothers, but he loves to bulldoze them and wrestle and tag along.  He's been pretty quick to keep up, so he's not left behind.

We sure do love you, Kortlen!!!